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King City
April 28, 2026

Weed control effort seeks to curb virus threat for Salinas Valley’s lettuce

Salinas Valley lettuce
SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County has enacted a mandatory abatement program for select weeds as part of an effort to contain the impatiens necrotic spot virus, or INSV, which has severely impacted the region’s lettuce crop in recent years. Officials are urging residents who notice...

Documentary short film shines light on Salinas Valley

SALINAS VALLEY — A documentary short film set in the Salinas Valley has been officially selected for the prestigious 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and will have its world premiere during the festival’s celebrated Short Film Program. ā€œThe Long Valleyā€ is a 13-minute documentary showcasing the...

Western Growers earns second $30K AgTech Innovation Grant

In a joint effort to accelerate the development of agricultural technologies, Wells Fargo has awarded Western Growers a $30,000 grant for the second year in a row.

Meal giveaway for farmworkers in Greenfield grows to 3,000

GREENFIELD — For the second time, thousands of freshly prepared meals were distributed to farmworker families suffering during the Covid-19 crisis on May 26 at Patriot Park in Greenfield. The food distribution is the latest effort by the United Farm Workers and World Central Kitchen...

Monterey County Board of Supervisors to mark 50th anniversary of ā€˜El Cortito’ ban

SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County Board of Supervisors will host a special ceremony on Tuesday, June 10, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a landmark legal case that arose out of the Salinas Valley and outlawed the use of ā€œEl Cortito,ā€ or the short-handled...

Guest Column | How Farmworkers Outlawed ā€˜El Cortito’ 50 Years Ago

For decades in the Salinas Valley, the short-handle hoe, known as ā€œEl Cortito,ā€ was used for weeding and thinning rows of crops that kept farmworkers stooped over for long hours each day. Workers were only able to stand and stretch when they reached the...

Monterey County’s 2022 Crop Report reveals strength in lettuce industry, weakness in cannabis production

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County’s crop production increased in value last year by more than $500 million despite decreases in both wine grapes and cannabis, according to the county’s 2022 Crop and Livestock Report. Overall gross crop and livestock production was over $4.6 billion in...

King City High School’s new agriculture facility beginning to take shape

KING CITY — Construction crews recently finished pouring the foundation for King City High School’s new Future Farmers of America facility, which is taking shape at the former Mildred Street parking lot on the east end of the campus. The facility will feature new areas...

Watsonville Rotary Club kicks off Pioneer Series

On March 29, the members of Watsonville Rotary and guests gathered at the Watsonville Elks Lodge for the first in a series of special monthly meetings.

South County farmer to receive national award in September

South County organic farmer Israel Morales Sr. of JV Farms Organic in Soledad will receive the Organic Farmer of the Year Award at the Organic Trade Association’s Leadership Awards set for Sept. 11 at the Belvedere Hotel in Baltimore, Md.